It’s a brand new year, and a great time to look back at 2018 and see what we’ve accomplished and look forward and set new goals for all the great things we want to do in the next 12 months.

Of course, New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously difficult to keep. We go into them with the very best of intentions, but tend to lose interest and motivation all too quickly.

However, if there’s one resolution we can unreservedly recommend it’s this: To get and maintain a great smile.

Why is this such an important resolution?

Let’s just consider some of the benefits of a simple smile.

First, there are physical benefits. A smile can help you look younger (actually proven in studies) and feel better. People who smile a lot seem to have lower stress-hormone levels, and that leads to a number of other health benefits.

There are also a number of psychological benefits. A smile can help improve your mood – for that matter, it can help boost others’ moods. For you, a smile tells your brain that there is a reason to be happy, so it will accommodate you by releasing some natural “feel good” chemicals. But it’s also important to note that a smile is literally contagious. The more you smile, the more others will want to smile back.

Finally, there are many social benefits to sharing your smile. People often report improved work situations and better relationships when they more readily smile at others. Smiles can reduce conflict and help others feel more comfortable around you. That means people are more open to honest conversations and new ideas.

How to Get a Great Smile

You don’t have to let self-conscious feelings keep you from experiencing all those great benefits. It’s easier than ever to deal with a wide range of cosmetic dental concerns and get the smile you’ve always wanted. Whether it’s stained or discolored teeth, chips or cracks, or even completely missing teeth, we can help you take care of it.

Just a few of the potential treatments that can help you get a great smile include:

Teeth Whitening – One of the most common cosmetic procedures that can produce immediate results.

Dental Crowns – Misshapen, broken, or worn-out teeth can be treated with these custom caps.

Teeth Straightening – Invisalign is an effective way to reposition your teeth and improve your bite.

More than Just Looks

A great smile is actually about more than just looks. While we already mentioned the physical feel-good benefits of smiling, these services actually go beyond that.

Things like missing teeth, cracked or crooked teeth, and a misaligned bite can have an unwanted impact on your overall dental health. You can protect yourself from infections and cavities by taking advantage of these treatments.

A New Smile for a New Year

If you are going to make a new resolution this year, let us recommend one that involves a healthy new smile.

A smile may seem like a small and simple thing, but it may be a lot more important than you think.